Quick quiz: Asthma/COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS)

Our quick quizzes test your knowledge through a series of illustrative cases and scenarios. Work your way through the questions to enhance your understanding of key conditions.

Press ‘start’ below to begin the quiz on comorbid asthma and COPD, also known as asthma/COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS).

Note this series features hypothetical cases developed for educational purposes

<div id="article_leaderboard2" class="article-lb mb-4 widget_text widget adbanner mpu d-none d-md-none d-lg-block "> <div class="textwidget custom-html-widget">  <div id="article-lb"><script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("article_leaderboard2"); }); </script></div> </div> </div> <section data-block="SingleChoice"> <h3>Which of the following is true about ACOS?</h3> <ul> <li>It is a diagnosis recognised by all the major asthma and COPD guidelines.</li> <li>Patients with symptoms of both asthma and COPD have more exacerbations than those who have either asthma or COPD alone.</li> <li>Around 5% of those diagnosed with either asthma or COPD actually have features of both conditions.</li> <li>Patients who only have COPD have a quicker decline in lung function than those with features of both conditions.</li> </ul> </section> <section data-block="SingleChoice"> <h3>Which of the following is likely to suggest that a patient has ACOS rather than COPD alone?</h3> <ul> <li>A past history of tuberculosis.</li> <li>A history of smoking.</li> <li>A cough productive of sputum.</li> <li>Symptoms starting below the age of 40.</li> </ul> </section> <section data-block="SingleChoice"> <h3>What is the one key difference in the management of those with ACOS, compared to those with COPD alone?</h3> <ul> <li>Those with ACOS must continue to use a treatment regimen which includes an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), whereas many with COPD alone don’t need an ICS.</li> <li>Long-acting muscarinic antagonists don’t work as well in those with ACOS as in those with COPD alone.</li> <li>Those with ACOS generally get on better with metered dose inhalers than with dry powder inhalers.</li> <li>Smoking cessation is more important for those with COPD alone than those with ACOS.</li> </ul> </section> <section data-block="SingleChoice"> <h3>A colleague has asked for your opinion on a spirometry result; they wonder if the patient may have ACOS. You note that the person also has a previous peak flow diary in their records. Which of the following would make you think that the person may have features of asthma rather than just COPD?</h3> <ul> <li>A 150ml increase in FEV1 after the use of a bronchodilator.</li> <li>An FEV1/FVC ratio which does not change after a bronchodilator is given.</li> <li>A 25% variation in morning versus evening peak flow measurements.</li> <li>Peak flow readings which are generally higher in the morning than in the evening.</li> </ul> </section> <section data-block="SingleChoice"> <h3>As well as using a treatment regimen containing an ICS, which of the following might be useful if you suspect that a patient has ACOS, which would not be relevant if they have COPD alone?</h3> <ul> <li>Proactively enquire as to whether they have hay fever.</li> <li>Give a written treatment plan which empowers patients to change their treatment regime based on symptoms.</li> <li>Start treatment with a long-acting rather than a short-acting bronchodilator.</li> <li>All of the above.</li> </ul> </section> <p>  <p>  <p>  <p>  <p>  <p>

Quick quiz: Asthma/COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS)

Related articles

Most Popular